Pechika Inc. (Headquarters: Minato Ward, Tokyo; President and CEO: Atsuo Watanabe), which operates the cat-exclusive private room pet hotel 'Nekobeya' and the cat-exclusive shampoo salon 'Nekobeya Salon,' is pleased to announce that it has reached a total of 20 locations, comprising 14 directly managed stores and 6 franchise stores. In addition to directly managed expansion, the addition of franchise stores has helped spread the unique value of cat-exclusive, fully private rooms nationwide. All stores opened more than two years ago have achieved profitability. ▶ Official Page: https://nekobeya.pechika.jp/ Cat-Exclusive Pet Hotel/Salon 'Nekobeya' ■ Background - Cat Ownership Surpasses Dogs, Creating a "Lack of Boarding Options" Problem Cat ownership in Japan has reached 8.83 million, significantly exceeding the 7.05 million dogs (according to a survey by the Japan Pet Food Association). However, pet hotels where cats can be safely boarded are extremely limited. Typical pet hotels primarily use cages for both dogs and cats, which can be stressful for cats with strong territorial instincts. Furthermore, the revised Act on Welfare and Management of Animals, enforced in June 2022, has led to a review of keeping animals in small cages, causing businesses unable to cope with the necessary facility investments to withdraw from the market. ■ Why Expansion to 20 Locations Was Possible - Operational Design Driven by "System" 'Nekobeya' was designed from the outset as fully private rooms exclusively for cats, differentiating its demand from general pet hotels that also cater to dogs. Moreover, after more than 10 years and over 50 million yen in trial and error, all aspects—from customer acquisition and daily operational workflows to pricing and staff training—have been documented in manuals, creating a system that ensures consistent quality regardless of who operates it. The system includes dynamic pricing to optimize fees based on demand and a management consignment structure